Parish Clergy

Rev. Protopresbyter Dean Nastos, Proistamenos

Fr. Dean was born in Athens, Greece and came to America as a very young child. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois. After High School he attended Hellenic College in Brookline, MA where he graduated and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. He attended Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA where he graduated and received his Masters of Divinity Degree. Fr. Dean was married in 1984 to Carolyn and they have 2 sons. Fr. Dean was ordained a Deacon on December 23, 1984 at the Assumption Church of Chicago by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Chicago. Fr. Dean was ordained a Priest on May 26,1985 at the Assumption Church of Chicago by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Chicago. Fr. Dean began his Priesthood as the assistant Priest of the Assumption Church of Chicago on June 1, 1985.

Over the past 32 years, Fr. Dean has been instrumental in beginning or continuing Orthodox Fellowship programs within the Parishes he served. While a Proistamenos at St. John the Baptist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he began the OCF Program at the University of Iowa. He also began a Soup Kitchen in the church hall in Cedar Rapids before moving it to a public building in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Additionally, he ministered to the students and faculty after the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Fr. Dean strives to meet the needs of both the young and old of the parishes he serves.

Fr. Dean was a pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Wilmington, Delaware since in May, 2011. Prior to that he was assigned to Holy Trinity GOC, Roanoke, VA (2003-2011). Fr. Dean also served the Parishes of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio, Assumption Church in Flint, Michigan and Annunciation Church in Dayton, Ohio. And was made a Protopresbyter by His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey in 2006.

Fr. Deacon John L. Howard

Deacon John was born to Victor and Elaine Howard in Charleston, WV, on August 1st, 1960; the youngest boy in a family of six children. He was raised into a struggling middle class family where he was taught that God, the Orthodox Church, and family were of primary importance. This atmosphere of love, kindness, concern for others, and hard work put him on a career path toward medicine. He is board certified in Diagnostic Radiology and has a sub-specialty board certification in Vascular and Interventional Radiology. He met his wife, Lanette, in 1975 and they married on February 20th, 1988.They have three beautiful daughters, Brooke, Amanda, and Tara.

Deacon John was born and baptized into an Orthodox Christian family. He has regularly attended church and has been an active member since his youth. He served on the Annunciation Parish Council for 16 years; five as president of the council. He considers the purchase of the 5-acre parcel to the east of the church as a highlight of his tenure as president. He served in the altar as an adult supervisor for many years and completed the St. Stephens Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology.